Bottleholder



May 6, 1952 K- M. CONNOR ETAL BOTTLEHOLDER 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1947 May 6, 1952 K. M. CONNOR ETAL 2,596,009

BOTTLEHOLDER Filed Sept. 16, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I I Qvwwwfou XMZlewM $111201 n 02m Warm/13y Wm M Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLEHOLDER Kathleen M. Connor and Charles Warren Began, Washington, D. C.

Applicationseptember 16, 19.47, Serlat No. 774,396

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-346) This invention relates to bottle supports, and more particularly to a support which will adjustably hold a bottle in an upright or an inclined position at any desired angle.

The invention has especial utility for holding bottles which contain material which is removed from the bottle and applied with a brush. Ordinarily the brush is attached to the stopper of the bottle and projects into the bottle during periods of non-use. One example of such bottles are those containing finger nail polish, and the invention will be explained with particular reference to such bottles.

It is a matter of common knowledge that during the initial use of a finger nail polish bottle, when it is full or nearly so, no difficulty is experienced in dipping the brush into the contents to abstract some of the polish. During this time it is entirely satisfactory for the bottle to be-in an upright position. However, after so much polish has been removed that but a small amountremains in the bottom of the bottle, it is necessary to tilt the bottle in order to be able to dip the brush into the remaining contents It is not convenient in many instances to tilt the bottle when the brush is being dipped therein. This is because the hands are ordinarily occupied with the work being performed and it is both annoying and risky to repeatedly return one of the hands to the bottle simply to tilt it. Thus, when using nail polish, one hand must be exposed to receive the polish while the other hand is applying the polish and it is not convenient to regrasp the bottle each time more polish is to be obtained. Moreover each time that the hand being polished must again take hold of the bottle the risk is involved that some of the applied polish will be wiped off.

To avoid the risk and annoyance of having to frequently return to the bottle to tiltit, the bottle is often propped at an angle or is. grasped between the knees. Both of these practicesareunsafe and the bottle consequently often falls or slips and spill its contents. The fear that such spillage will occur materially slows up the operation being performed.

The bottle support of the present invention serves to adjustably hold the bottle either in an upright position or at a desired inclination. As more and more of the bottle contents is consumed, the bottle can be progressively tilted at a greater angle from the vertical to enable the user to dip the brush into the liquid. The use of the holder thus prevents accidents and makes it as convenient to Withdraw the last part of thecontents 2 from the bottle, as the first part. The fear that spillage might occur is eliminated and this makes it possible for the user to proceed with greater efficiency of operation.

Although, as-has been mentioned, the invention has particular use for holding nail polish bottles, it can be used with advantage for a large number of other bottles. Thus, the holder can be used to support bottles containing ink, ink eradicator, fluid for mimeograph stencils, liquid shoe polish, watch makers oils, perfumes, chemicals for spot removing, retouching fluids for photographic work, and film splicing fluids. It will be appreciated that instead of bottles, which are ordinarily made of glass, the invention is suitable for supporting metallic containers and plastic receptacles, and it is to be understood that the term bottles, as used in the specification and claim, is intended to apply to containers and receptacles as well.

A most important feature of the invention is that the adjustable holder may be made at very low cost. This is achieved although the support presents a very attractive appearance due to its novel. construction. Due to the formation and the arrangement of the parts, they can be made inexpensively and can be assembled rapidly.

Representative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one construction contemplated by the invention, the parts being disposed to hold a bottle in an upright position, and showing the tilted position of the parts in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an expanded view of the bottle retaining part before it is shaped to form a socket for the bottle,

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line l4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an end elevational view partly in section of a modified construction,

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a plan view of the bottle gripping portion of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, of another modified construction.

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, showing the parts made of a plastic material,

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the line Ifll6 of Figure 9, and

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a gang arrangement of the bottle holders.

Referring first to the arrangement of Figures 1, 2 and 3, this includes a lower base part II and an upper bottle retaining part I2 which is adjustable with respect to the base part. The base part II includes a stand I3 which may be of any suitable formation to rest on a fiat surface and which is here shown as a plate. To reduce the cost of this plate I3 and to make it of attractive appearance, it may be formed of relatively thin sheet metal which is strengthened by fianging the opposite ends to form footings I i-I4.

The stand I3 may be of any configuration so long as it is large enough to suificiently underlie the bottle to be held to prevent the stand from tipping. As here shown the stand is of oblong formation and the footings I4 are along its narrow ends.

Projecting upwardly from the stand [3 are a pair of spaced uprights I5-I5. For simplicity of construction these uprights I5 are made as end portions of a connecting center portion I6, all from the same piece of sheet metal. This is conveniently done by stamping or cutting the portions I5, I6 in one piece and turning the ends I5 upwardly. The center portion I6 is then affixed to the stand I3 in any suitable manner as by soldering or spot welding.

Preferably, the uprights I5 are disposed to ward one end" of the stand I3 as is shown in Figure 1. This arrangement makes it possible to have a shorter base and still have the stand underlie the bottle when it is tilted as appears from Figure 1.

The upper extremities of the uprights I5 are generally circular from a side view as appears in Figure 1 and are dished in cross-section as appears from Figure 2. This dished construction forms recessed fiat seats I! on the oppositely facing inner sides of the uprights I5. These recesses may be formed easily by a stamping operation.

Cooperating with the recessed seats I'I--I'I are.

depending flanges I8I8 of the bottle gripping part I2. These flanges I8 are of generally circular shape in outline and are outwardly bowed away from each other to form fiat protuberances I9 which enter into and fit the recessed seats II. This entrance of the protuberances I6 within the recessed seats I'I serves to maintain the bottle retainer I2 and the base II in assembled relationship and prevent their separation due to normal use.

It will be observed that the protuberances I9 and the recessed seats I! coact to form a fulcrum for the pivotal movement of the upper bottle retaining portion I2 with respect to the lower base portion I l. The circular formation of these cooperating surfaces permits this tilting movement while maintaining the parts assembled. Due to the large size of these coacting surfaces they may offer sufiicient frictional contact to maintain the bottle retaining portion in the position to which it is tilted but to make certain that slippage does not occur the coacting fiat surfaces preferably are serrated or ribbed. Preferably these opposing fiat surfaces are formed with radial ribs which have the appearance in cross-section of Figure 9. A similar result can be obtained by merely roughening these coacting surfaces.

The bottle retaining portion I2 includes, in addition to the depending flanges I8 a socket to the bottle retainer is formed with fingers or leaves 20 which project upwardly from a sleeve portion 2|.

While there may be any number of the leaves 2! as here shown there are four in number and they are arranged to form a square socket. This will receive and grip a round bottle as well as a square bottle due to the fact that the leaves bear inwardly with a resilient pressure. The connecting sleeve 2| is of elongated shape and the flanges I8 are beneath two of the opposite leaves 26.

In order that the spring leaves 20 will open to form a better defined socket and grip the bottle along-a greater portion of its length, they are preferably of angular shape at their lower ends as shown at 22. These portions flare outwardly at an increased angle to connect to the sleeve 2 I. Between the sleeve 2| and the depending flanges I8, the socket is preferably formed with an inturned shoulder 23 for the bottle to rest upon. 7

The entire bottle retaining portion I2 can be easily made as a single stamping or cutting as appears from Figure 3. This figure shows this element laid out and as it appears before it is shaped into the socket formation by connecting its ends together. To complete the socket the opposite edges may be soldered together or one of them may be provided with the tab 25 which can be soldered or spot welded to the opposite end of the piece.

The bottle retaining portion I2 is assembled with the base portion II merely by slightly spreading the uprights I5 apart and inserting the fianges I8 between them in the proper position. The support is then ready to receive a bottle in its socket and it is then ready for use. During the initial use of the bottle it should be in an upright position so that the contents can not flow out. As the liquid is progressively consumed the bottle may be tilted to an increasing angle from the vertical so that the applicator brush can be dipped into the remaining liquid.

' The adjustable bottle support thus leaves both hands of the person using the bottle free to perform some other function than holding the bottle.

The structure of the modified form ofFigures 4, 5 an'd'fi is, in general, similar to that of Figures 1, 2 and 3, and the essential differences will be pointed out. One feature is the constructional detail which eliminates the need with the arrangement of Figures 1, 2 and 3 for soldering the uprights I5l5 to the'stand I3. To eliminate this need, the stand 25 in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is formed with an opening or slot 26, which preferably is of rectangular shape.

The S101; 2a is of the same width as the width of the slot 26 as appears from Figure i. 'With,

this arrangement, therefore, the part carrying the uprights 28-+28 is assembled with'the stand 25 by merely inserting its center portion 21 through the slot 26 until the ends of the slot engage the grooves 29.

The embodiment of Figures 4, and 6 illustrates the fact that the dished formations at the tops of the uprights 28-48, and the protuberances at the lower ends of the depending flanges 3I3l may be so shaped that their cooperating surfaces are portions of spheres. The coacting surfaces thus simulate a ball and socket construction, although they are made of sheet metal.

To increase the frictional grip of the fingers or leaves 32 upon the bottle being retained, a spring 33 is provided. This spring 33 is preferably positioned at the tops of the leaves 32 and encircles all of them. It is retained at this position by flaring the tops of the leaves 32 outwardly as shown at 34.

Figure 6 shows at 3|], that depressions may be formed in the base plate for the fingers to rest in while the nail polish is being applied. By placing the finger tips in said depressions 30, the latter aid in holding the fingers in immobilized position and moreover the base 25 serves as a splash plate.

'In Figure 4 the cooperating surfaces between the uprights l5 and the depending flanges [8 are serrated or ribbed to more positively retain the parts in any adjusted position. Figure 8 shows that this expedient is not a necessary one as the coacting surfaces between the uprights 36-36 and the depending flanges 31-31 are smooth. Due to the large extent of these abutting surfaces they offer sufficient frictional contact to retain the parts at a desired working angle during any normal use.

Figure 9 shows that the bottle support may be made of a moulded plastic. As is clear from this figure the uprights 40-40 are moulded integrally with the base plate or stand 4|. The bottle retaining portion which includes the fingers or leaves 42 forming the sides of the socket and the depending flanges 43, is made of one piece. In this case the connecting sleeve 44 is made solid throughout its extent so that it does not need to be attached at one corner.

The coacting surfaces between uprights 40 and depending flanges 43, may be smooth, or may be roughened or scored in any desired manner. For

bent sheet metal, or it may be of plastic.

example, they may be ribbed as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 11 shows a ganged relationship of the bottle retainer. This arrangement utilizes a common stand 45 which is sufiiciently wide to accommodate several pairs of uprights 46, 41, and 48, aside of each other. A separate bottle retainer cooperates with each of these pairs of supports and they may consequently be individually adjusted to a desired angle corresponding to the amount of the contents of the bottle.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of Figure 11 may correspond to any one of the structures previously described. Thus, it may be of As one suitable use of this ganged arrangement it may be mentioned that the separate bottles may hold nail polish remover, cuticle remover, and finger nail polish, respectively.

What is claimed is:

A support for holding bottles that comprises a base member, a pair of upright resilient elements positioned in spaced relation on said base member, said elements having recessed seating surfaces on their inwardly facing sides, a bottle retaining member including spaced resilient upright leaves to resiliently engage a bottle, a pair of resilient flanges connected to said bottle retaining member on opposite sides, said flanges having protruding surfaces on their outwardly facing sides complementary to the recessed seating surfaces of said elements, said protruding surfaces being fitted into said seating surfaces in frictional engagement therewith so that said retaining member can be tilted relative to said base member and held in the tilted position thereby.

KATHLEEN M. CONNOR. CHARLES WARREN BOGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 507,051 Thomson Oct. 17, 1893 1,789,789 Tallmadge Jan. 20, 1931 2,063,554 Meyerson Dec. 8, 1936 2,386,042 Elzeer Oct. 2, 1945 

